The year is 2552.

Mankind has reached for the stars and like many times before on their own planet have created an empire across the galaxy. Billions life and work on other worlds, and for a time it was good.

It all changed when the Covenant came.

The Covenant are a alliance of diverse alien species come together for one cause...the utter and complete extermination of the human race. For thirty years the Covenant destroyed colony after colony, fleets upon fleets. It is as much of a war like toddlers against warriors.

Billions lay dead and the Covenant seem unstoppable in their crusade.

However, there are few who seem create terror in their hearts...the Spartans.

The Spartans are super soldiers created by Doctor Halsey who are able to kill hundreds of Covenant, earning their nickname 'Demons'.

It is in these Spartans Mankind's final plan rests...

A team of Spartans will gather at the planet Reach, the strongest and best defended planet next to Earth, where they will stage a attack on the Covenant capitol of High Charity and hold their leadership hostage to force a peace treaty.

However, the enemy is strong and resilient...they found Reach, the fortress of mankind among the stars. The fate of 900 million innocent now rests in the hand of the Spartans, and those brave enough to defy the Covenant.

August 17th, 2552
08:03 (Local Time)

Reach orbit

UNSC 'Dauntless'- Halcyon Class Cruiser

If there was sound in space, one would've gone mad by the explosions and the shouts and cries of human and alien alike as they got sucked from their vessels into the cold vacuum of space.

The UNSC (United Nations Space Command) and the Covenant Empire fought over Reach for nearly a month now. The debris in the planet's orbit and hundreds if not thousands of dead bodies that did not float and burn in the atmosphere testified that.

The 'Dauntless' under the command of Captain Nelson recently jumped in the star system with two other vessels to support the defenders in space and on land.

The Dauntless was a Halcyon class cruiser. Halcyon-class cruisers were composed of five hexagonal and octagonal sections mounted onto each other. The bridge was slung underneath one of the forward sections and eight docking bays are distributed throughout the ship.

It's major strength was the MAC cannon, or Magnetic Accelerator Cannon, which was able to destroy most Covenant capitol ships with one well aimed shot.

In his thirty years of service, Captain Nelson never missed a shot.

'Fire!' the captain ordered.

'Firing!' the helmsmen replied. The Mac canon fired it's deadly load at a Covenant corvette, a large tear shaped large vessel, which penetrated the center of the warship and made it crash towards the planet's surface.

'Direct hit Captain!' the helmsmen smiled.

Captain Nelson nodded as he adjusted his eye patch. He was a man of age, 52, and was pretty much on the frontlines against the Covenant ever since the war started. He had graying hair with a matching moustache. He was one of the stoic captains of the UNSC fleet, but also one of it's best. Not once did he smile if a battle went well, or frown when it went sour. He did his duty, his job, that was all.

'Captain, we are receiving a distress call planetside.'

The Captain turned around as he watched a small blue form appear on a small pedestal next to him. The blue dot soon took the form of a well groomed and mannered man in his thirties with a white lab coat.

'What is it, Frankenstein?' The captain asked.

Frankenstein was a AI that served for the Dauntless, he was created at the Captain's behest. The novel 'Frankenstein' was his wife's and granddaughter's favourite, he couldn't resist the form of the avatar when he had the chance to create it.

'It's Quezon sir, the local forces there ask for reinforcements to safely evacuate the locals.'

'Who is the closest?' the captain asked.

'We are Sir...Captain I detect fifty more dropships heading toward the planet's surface toward Quezon. I cannot contact Admiral Freemont or Stanforth. The battlenet is a mess sir...'

The Captain placed his index finger on his chin, a little tick he had while he was thinking.

'Right, ready 10 pelican dropships and alert the ODST groups, we're sending them planet side. Send them the locations we still have under our control...' he paused.' Send the Spartan in as well.'

'You sure that is wise sir?' Frankenstein asked.' We might need him soon for the operation on the covenant capi-'

'There wont be a operation Victor.' The captain said.' We're fighting a losing battle, the only thing we can do is safe as many people as we can. The Spartan will be of more use down there then here.'

'Aye Captain.' Frankenstein replied and immediately gave the red alert.

The Spartan placed his red armour on as the alarm blared. He put his gloves on before he placed his helmet over his head. As he stood up he was over two meters and a half tall. His armour hard red plates over black Kevlar like under cushions while his helmet liked like a 20th century motorcycle helmet, save it's orange looking visor.

On his right chest the numbers 511 were imprinted.

'George!' A man shouted.' Think fast!'

The Spartan spun around and quickly caught his assault rifle the man threw over. The man wore black armour, similar to the Spartan, but smaller and more manoeuvrable. His helmet's visor was more T shaped and he himself was about one meter eighty. He was an ODST, a Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, the only people insane enough to drop down form orbit into a warzone.

'Your getting a tad slow there buddy.' The ODST grinned behind his helmet.

'Two hours of sleep does that to a man, William.' George replied with a similar grin.' You ready?'

'You bet, and hey don't worry, I'll leave some covie's for you to kill when you get down there.'

'Just make sure you get out alive, I'm not writing Alice and your kids their father and husband got killed because he wanted to outscore me.'

'You are still sore because of what happened on Tyranus VI?' William took his own assault rifle.' How much was the score?'

'That's not the-'

'Twenty-fifteen right?'

'Twenty-nineteen...'

'Wraith's don't count!' William countered.

'William!' a higher ranking ODST shouted.' Stop talking to the freak and get in your pod!'

'Aye sir!' William replied and took his pistol which he strapped on his right leg.' Catch you planet side, buddy!'

'Good hunting.' George replied as the two slammed their hands together before each walked off in their separate directions.

'Jesus Will...' another trooper said.' Why are you pals with a Spartan anyway?'

'Oh, I'm sorry Romeo, I didn't know you recently acquired maternal feelings for me.'

'I'll shove those feelings up your ar-'

'Enough, both of you, save it for the Covenant!'

'Yes Sarge...' both replied with a groan.

The Troopers entered their egg shaped pods and closed the doors by pulling it towards them.

'Are your men ready, Sergeant Buck?' Captain Nelson asked over the COM.

'We're ready and rearing sir.' The Sergeant replied.

'Alright, good luck out there, looks like your going into one hell of a warzone.'

'We go feet first into hell, sir.' Buck said.

'The area is secure sir.' Victor Frankenstein said.' No enemy aircraft sighted.'

'Shoot the ODST's down then, then send the pelicans.'

'Aye captain.'

The Pods were shot from the ship's hull toward the planet's surface with a incredible speed.

George looked outside the ship's window before he got into the pelican dropship.

The pelican had a T shaped figure with a large compartment in the middle. It had to be if it wanted to support troops and vehicles, such as a Warthog.

George helped a soldier get aboard the ship before it's bay doors closed for space travel.

'Thanks sir.' The soldier said as he took his seat. The Spartan nodded in reply as he secured his seat. Spartans and ODST's did not get along because of a feud that started a long time ago of a exercise that went wrong. Luckily that was not the case for the Marines.

'This is Flight Officer Fowles speaking, we're leaving the ships in ten seconds, hold on to your guts gentlemen, it's going to be one hell of a ride!' the female pilot exclaimed with glee.

She had short blonde hair and stark blue eyes. She was rather heavy build and had a strong face. At a distance she looked frightening, but when one talked to her they knew she was a kind and gentle soul. God knows why she picked this career path.

'Just make sure we get down there alive Lisa.' A marine said.

'You know me, the Covenant haven't made a ship fast enough to take me down!' She replied as she slid the visor of her helmet down.

The Pelican was picked up by mechanical arms as it was raised and pulled to a open trench which would lead to outside the ship. On it's back a Warthog, a jeep with a driver and passenger seat and a minigun in the back, was attached for ground use.

The arms let loose as the ship fell down the shaft into open space. The Pilot immediately activated the trusters and send the Pelican planet side along with the others, toward Quezon.

The pelicans effortlessly punched through the atmosphere and flew toward the city.

The city, although once it could have been called the pearl of Reach, was now burning. Buildings were on fire, gun-and plasma fire sounded through the streets along with the shouting and screaming.

'Son of a bitch...' Lisa cursed.' They trashed the place...'

The pelicans stayed in formation as the rolling plains below them swooped by.

'-Echo 421, this is Lance Constable Cutter, do you read?'

George immediately went over to the cockpit.' That's one of the ODST's.'

Lisa opened the com.' Lance Constable, this is Echo 421, I read you loud and clear.'

'It's a trap, the Covenant have banshee's all over the place, scatter, scatter!'

Lisa looked at George. Banshees were the Covenant's fighters planet wise, very deadly for unprotected pelicans.
'William, it's George, where ARE the banshees?' The Spartan asked.

'I got them in my sights...they are at your six!' the ODST shouted.

'Ah shit..' Lisa cursed once more.' Hang on, evasive man-'

But it was already to late.

The pelican shook heavily as it was hit by a squadron of Covenant Banshees that flew behind them. The Pelicans were all under heavy fire.

'Main engines are out, we're going down!' Lisa shouted.' Everyone strap in, we're going down hard!'

Echo 421 swopped left and right as it flew over city limits into the city proper. The Banshee behind them opened fire again which knocked the Warthog of the Pelican into the ruined streets below.

'Open the bay door.' George replied.' I'll fight it off.'

'Might have to, I don't think I'll be able to land this thing...' the pilot said.

George nodded and moved to the back of the transport.

The bay door opened wide as the Spartan took his rifle and placed it against his shoulder as he took his aim. The pilot of the Banshee blinked in disbelief as the Spartan opened fire on the fighter. The bullets of the assault rifle penetrated the glass of the Banshee.

The pilot was apparently hit as the banshee immediately dropped in altitude and crashed down into a building below, much to the cheers of the marines.

'Nice one there.' Lisa said.' Now let's-'

The Pelican shook heavily again as it was hit on it's side which made the Spartan fall out of the ship.

Thankfully the Pelican was flying rather low to the ground as the Spartan was able to fall and roll on the rooftop of a apartment.

Spartan's had a special armour which a in build shield scientists were able to create from Covenant technology.

However it still hurt quite a bit, and as George looked up he saw the pelican crash down into a plaza two blocks away.

With a groan the Spartan slowly got up to his feet.

'Echo 421...this is Spartan 511..respond.'

There was no reply.

'Echo 421, this is Spartan 511, come in Lisa!

There was still no reply, save static.

'Damnit...' George cursed. He looked around the rooftop and took up his weapon after he found it.

'George!' a distant voice alerted the Spartan. George turned around and saw a ODST waving at him from a rooftop up ahead. Guessing of it's friendly waving, it had to be Will.

'You alright?' George tried the com, but received no reply.

William pointed to his helmet. 'Fried!' he shouted.' Plasma shot, Elite!'

'Street?' George shouted back.

'Street!' William replied.

The Spartan made his way downstairs, passed the broken bodies of the poor souls who were not fast enough to get out in time. He went back outside and came across William who ran over.

'It's good to see you, man.' The ODST sighed of relief.' I thought you got killed when the Pelican crashed...'

'What happened?'

'It's a set up, the distress call, the save zones...all of it, they wanted to wipe us out. I lost contact with my own crew, let alone the Pelicans.'

'Clever bastards...'

William nodded.' I'm pretty sure most of not all of our guys already left the city.'

'We should to...after we disrupt that signal and warn the Dauntless.'

'Agreed...but I don't fancy walking, do you?'

George pondered.' My pelican was carrying a Warthog, it shouldn't be to far from here.'

'Lead the way.'

The duo moved to the south of the ruined city. They passed burned out cars, debris if destroyed buildings and more civilian casualties.

'The hell happened here...?' Will asked.' A city of twenty million, and no call for help or anything.'

'Must've disrupted the communication array...' George speculated.' And then took it for their own.'

'Your saying they cracked our codes?'

'Maybe...'

The two turned in a corner...and came across a group of enemies near a overturned warthog.

There was a lot of smaller aliens, four reptile like ones, two large ones who seemed to argue with three gorilla like aliens.

The smaller ones, Grunts, were looking by with their reptilian peers, The Jackals, as the two larger species were shouting angrily. The larger ones Elites, had blue armour which covered their mandibles at their mouths. The Gorilla's, Brutes, had similar gear but unlike the Elites it did not cover their heads or arms.

'Crap, that's a whole patrol...' Will whispered as the duo took cover behind a car.

'Any ideas...?' George asked.

The ODST looked around. He looked to his left, and saw a small building which was completely ruined, but still had it's two stores and the debris allowed someone to climb on top.

'I got an idea...' Will grinned.

'You have no right here, Sanghelli.' The Brute referred to the Elite.' Your race has disappointed the Prophets to much in the past, if this was a Jiralhanae led-assault this planet would've been glassed a long time ago!'

'Hold your tongue you damn ape!' The Elite snarled.' If it were up to you we would've lost more troops to those humans.'

'Spoken like a true coward.'

The Elite held his weapon to the Brute's head which divided the Covenant party into two sides. Half the Grunts sided with the Elites while the other half and the jackals with the Brutes.

'Try it.' The Brute glared.' When our leaders find out, your kind will be kicked out of the Covenant.'

'When do they, I will tell them you disrupted the mission and I had the uphold my honour, and the honour of my people. Or does that concept go past your primitive mind?'

'I'll rip your-'

Assault rifle fire sounded from their left as the Spartan opened his assault on the Covenant group.

'Demon!' a grunt shouted.' It's a demon!'

The Grunts hid behind their Jackal allies who opened a blue shield from their arm bracelets and fired with their plasma pistols.

The Elites and Brutes disregarded their rivalry and opened fire on the sole Spartan with their Plasma rifles.

'A sole demon, attacking us?' the second elite asked.

'Must be a young one.' The first replied.

'Good, killing a demon always brings honour to the cove-'

BAM

The Brute lay dead as the grunts panicked and ran.

'Where did-'

BAM

The second elite fell down as half his face was missing from the gunshot.

The First elite glanced up as several of his grunts got picked off one by one by the sole ODST on the roof.

'There!' The elite pointed. 'Get him!'

The Brute took a jackal and followed it toward the building.

'I got you now, human filth!' the brute shouted.

'I don't think so...'

The Brute glanced to his right...and was knocked down by the hilt of the Spartan's rifle. Before the Brute could get up the Spartan fired a round into the Brute's skull.

The Jackal was about to return fire but in was shot in the back by the ODST.

The Spartan took the plasma pistol and held the trigger as he aimed it at the surviving brute.

The plasma pistol soon gathers a small green orb which was shot toward the Brute. The ape like alien flew back against a car unconscious while the rest of the Covenant forces were nearly wiped out.

The Elite growled and dragged the Brute with him as he retreated with the surviving grunts.

'We got them on the run!' Will shouted.

'Let them, hurry, get to the Warthog!' George shouted.

The duo ran to the vehicle and pushed it on it's four wheels. Will took a look at it and nodded.

'It still works.'

'I'll drive, you get on the gun.' George said.

The trooper nodded and got on the minigun on the back of the vehicle.

George took the wheel and immediately drove towards the signal his helmet's sensors picked up.

The Warthog drove past the horrible sights as buildings began to fall down.

'Holy shit!' Will exclaimed.

'They're taking down buildings!' George said.' Means some of our troops are still around here, hiding somewhere.'

'We need pick up!'

'If we destroy the signal, we might contact our own!'

George hit the brakes as they came near the signal.

Covenant forces were outside on a plaza as they patrolled around a satellite dish. William stepped out of the minigun compartment and used the scope on his gun to get a closer look.

'And?' George asked.

'Bastards know how to use our codes...I see one of their Jackals typing away.'

Jackals were one of the first species that came into contact with humanity, and because of that were faster in understanding their technology. There was even a time when some Jackals hired themselves out to work for the UNSC, no doubt this Jackal was one of them, but all turned to the Covenant sooner or later.

'Think you can hit that dish from here?'

'Only one way to find out...'

William took his time to take a shot. His visor went over to the jackal's head as his finger went to his trigger ever so slowly.

He held his breath as he took the shot.

BAM

The jackal fell dead on the floor.

BAM BAM BAM

The satellite dish was destroyed.

The Elite in charge shouted orders and pointed at the direction where the shots came from.

Will immediately got back in his minigun seat.

'Go go go!'

George stepped on the gas and drove away from the city center.

They were pursued by Elites on Ghosts, hover vehicles similar to banshees save for a more motorcycle like look. Will opened fire from his turret while George shot a few busts of his assault rifle behind him when he could look away from the road for a few seconds.

Despite the gun and plasma noise, he could hear the radio crackling.

'-to...any UNSC forces...this...Echo 421...can anyone here...me?'

'Lisa!' George shouted.' Lisa, this is George, can you hear me?'

'George...you...made it...'

'Hang on, we're picking you up.'

The Warthog made a sharp turn and followed the signal of the crashed Pelican.

George pushed the pedal hard as he raced through the streets. Next to William, he didn't have many friends, he knew Lisa from bootcamp, before he even got accepted to the Spartan III programme, he had to save her, he had to...

The Warthog jumped over a speed ramp and it neared the crashed Pelican.

It looked rather intact, save for the smoke that came from it's sides.

'Keep talking Lisa, stay awake!'

'Hard...stay...'

'We're gonna have to make it fast George, got more Covenant coming!' William shouted.

The Warthog stopped near the crash site and George immediately got out and ran inside the dropship.

He checked the marine who were still strapped inside their seats...all dead.

He scrambled to the cockpit where he saw Lisa slumped over her dashboard, groaning.

'Lisa, you okay?' George undid her of her safety belt.

'Head...'

George held her in his arms and took her outside. He could already hear William firing away on the minigun In a bid to keep the Ghosts away.

'You got her?' he shouted.

'I got her!' George replied and placed her on the passengers seat.

He took out a adrenaline needle from the EHBO pack on the side of the Warthog.

'I'm going to jab this in you, okay Lisa?' George asked and jabbed it in her chest.

Lisa cried out in pain as it began to get in her bloodstream.

The Spartan then grab a can from the kit and sprayed some foam over her head which seemed to heal the headwounds a bit.

'We have to go, NOW!'

George nodded and got into the drivers seat.

The Warthog drove off as it got pursued again.

'Shoot the Pelican, the fuel tank!' George shouted.

'Got it!' William replied and fired at the fuel tank.

The Pelican exploded in a hail of fire, which consumed the pursuers.

William tried to look through the black smoke...but found no more Covenant that pursued them.

'We're clear!'

'Good.' George said.' We need to get Lisa to a medic.'

'Agreed, but whe-'

The radio on the Warthog crackled as it came to life.

'All UNSC forces, this is Captain Nelson of the Dauntless' rendezvous at New Alexandria asap. I repeat, this is Captain Nelson of the UNSC Dauntless, rendezvous at New Alexandria asap!'

'The captain?' William asked.' Why would the captain take command to-'

The trooper stopped mid sentence as he looked above...and saw the Dauntless crash from orbit to the city below.

The Dauntless had numerous plasma holes on it's sides and the largest of the two engines malfunctioned. Needless to say the ship took a heavy beating after the Spartan and ODST left the ship.

The radio message kept repeating itself until the Dauntless crashed in the middle of Quezon city...

Silence reigned over the Warthog as it sped past the exit sign.

'You have now left Quezon, we hope to see you again soon!' it said.

George stopped the Warthog on top of a hill as it overlooked the burning city.

'The captain...' William said.' You think he got out?'

'No...' George replied.' He served on that ship for his whole career...he would've stayed there until...until...'

William nodded.

George looked over at Lisa, and sighed of relief as he saw her chest moving.

'She's alive...'

'How far till New Alexandria?'

'Seven hours driving...' George replied.

'Well...best get going then...and hope to god the rest of our guys will make it there to.'

The Spartan could not help but nod solemnly as he drove off.

TBC